New Delhi, April 18 -- "We were pulled over for a drug search," says chef Jason McKinney. "I'm thinking if this goes wrong, how do I explain it to Keller?" It was 2015. He was working at The French Laundry, the coveted three Michelin star restaurant by chef Thomas Keller in Napa Valley, California.

McKinney had borrowed his father's car to head back after a break, but his father, who had an addiction, insisted on driving him. Hours later, nothing was found, and they were let go. Father and son stopped at a steakhouse soon after.

McKinney narrated the story to a rapt audience at a pop-up dinner, at Le Cirque, The Leela Palace Bengaluru a few weeks ago. "The best ingredient in the world is context, and that's where this dish comes from" -...